Tool for crimping electrical connectors



Oct. 10,1967 w. WERNER ET AL A 3,345,855

TOOL FOR CRIMPING ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 lllllkINVENTORS' BYKEA/NET Scorr (/0 Y5 M 7%,; K/M

Man-e fiv'tes (JEE/UEE Oct. 10,1967 w. M. WCERNYER ETAL 3,345,856

TOOL FOR CRIMPING ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS Filed Dec. 25, 1964 I 5Sheets-Sheet z INVENTORS Nance Wis 62s d/zeluez BY/(awvem 5 oTr //fiysM/WWYW Oct. 10,1967 w. M. WERNER ETAL 3,

TOOL FOR CRIMPING ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS Filed Dec. 23, 1964 5Sheets-Sheet 3 26 f INVENTOR5 U la-1? five-P5 6/6211/62 y Ken/NEW SCOYT'(Zws Oct. 10,1967 7 w WERNER ETAL 3,345,856

I TOQL FOR CRIMPING ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS Filed Dec. 23, 1964 I 5Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. Mun? flvees (Jae/v52 56 fe/vA/em Scorr Key:

Oct. 10,1967 w. M.WERNER ETAL 3,345,855

TOOL FOR CRIMPING ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS ESheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 23,1964 INVENTORS 6.194151? Mvezzs Mae/v52 BYKENNE TH COF7 1761 w, m w

United States Patent 3,345,856 TOOL FOR CRIMPING ELECTRICAL CONNECTORSWalter Myers Werner, Downingtown, and Kenneth Scott Hays, Exton, Pa.,assignors to AMP Incorporated,

Harrisburg, Pa.

Filed Dec. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 420,586 7 Claims. (Cl. 72-410) ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE A crimping tool having link members pivotally connectingjaw members and handle members together. The jaw members carry crimpingdie members which are moved toward each other upon operation of thehandle members to crimp a connector member onto a cable member. Guidemeans is provided to move the crimping die members along a straight-linepath. Adjustment means are provided in opposing surfaces of the handlemembers on each side of the pivot point connecting the link members tothe handle members for adjusting the crimping die members relative toeach other. The crimping die members have multiple crimping stations andlocking pin assembly means locks the the die members in one of themultiple crimping stations. Locator means are provided on the lockingpin assembly means adjacent the crimping die means for locating aconnector member between the crimping die members.

a motion at the crimping dies.

Crimping tools which are hand-operated may be basically divided intotools in which the crimping dies describe an arc during the crimpingoperation and tools in which the crimping dies are moved towards oneanother in a straight line path in order to effect crimping. The instantinvention is directed toward the latter type tool.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide acrimping tool which converts movement of a double lever type tool headinto straight line movement at the crimping dies.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a crimping toolwhich produces a more uniform deformation of the wire strands beingcrimped.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a crimping toolwhich has self-contained, but replaceable multi-position, multi-purposecrimping, wirecutting and stripping features.

An additional object of the present invention is the provision for acrimping tool which uses many identical parts in assembly. 7

A still further additional object is the provision for a hand-crimpingtool which has a unique adjustment feature to compensate for crimpingdies and related parts wear.

Other objects and attainments of the present invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the followingdetailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings inwhich there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of theinvention; it is to be understood, however, that this embodiment is notintended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention but is given forpurposes of illustration and principles thereof and the manner ofapplying it in practical use so that they may modify it in variousforms, each as may be best suited to the conditions of a particular use.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of a toolin accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded View showing the various parts of the tool head;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective exploded view illustrating the adjustmentfeature;

FIGURE 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the adjustment feature;

FIGURE 5 is a front elevational view of the tool showing the adjustmentfeature;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view of a die locking pin locked betweenplates;

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 but showing the die locking pinin its partial withdrawn position to permit rotation of the die;

FIGURE 8 is also a view similar to FIGURE 6 but showing the die lockingpin in its completely withdrawn position to allow removal of the die;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the locking pin; and

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of a completed termination made inaccordance with the invention.

In the embodiment shown, the reference numerals 2 and 4, see FIGURES 1,2 and 3, denote a pair of lever jaw plates pivotally connected one toanother by means of tie plates 6 and affixed to corresponding lever jawplates by use of tie bolts 8 and 10. Lever jaw plates 2 and 4 arepivotally connected by connecting bolts 12 and 14 at their respectivebase portions to one end of links 16 and 18 which are also pivotallyconnected by bolts 20 and 22 or the like within slots 13 of handleassemblies 15 and 17. The two handle assemblies 15 and 17 are centrallyconnected one to the other by pivot means designated as 24. Handles 26and 28 with grips attached are provided on the handle assemblies.

Located between the previously-mentioned lever jaw plates 2 and 4 aretwo sets of carrier plates 30 and 32 (see FIGURE 2) which are retainedin position by the tie bolts. Each carrier plate contains a channel 33.The channels in each set of carrier plates are in opposed relationshipand define cooperating die guide means for guide plate 34. The guideplate has affixed at its centermost portion an axially aligned pin 36which prevents the guide plate from being accidentally removed from theguide means when in use. Each carrier plate has an arcu- I ate recess35, and pin 36 is disposed within these opposed recesses when thecarrier plates of one set move toward the carrier plates of the otherset.

Rotatable multi-position crimping dies 38 and 40 similar to thosedisclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,900,854, which is assigned to the presentassignee are located between pairs of lever jaw plates and are rotatablycontained by means of die center pins 42 located on frames 45 of lockingpin assemblies 46. The dies are prevented from rotating by means of dieindexing pins 44 which engage corresponding equally-spaced or positionedholes 47 in the dies, see FIGURE 2, which are also located on frames 45of locking pin assemblies 46. Additional die indexing pins can beprovided in diametrical relationship on the frame 45 for engagement withcorresponding holes on the dies so as to more effectively lock or retainthe die in position. Pins 42 are similar to those described in U.S.Patent No. 3,080,184, and which is assigned to the present assignee. Thedetailed procedure for rotating the dies will be described hereafter.

In use, the tool handles 26 and 28 are manually opened far enough sothat the connector with conductor to be crimped can easily be positionedbetween the dies. The first crimp or compressing operation takes placeat one end of the connector and the second and each subsequent crimp isformed inwardly toward the center of the conductor. The other end of theconnector is crimped in the same manner. The view of the completed crimpcan be seen in FIGURE 10. Most prior art lever type tools tend to crimpso as to result in a bent or twisted connection. That is, the crimpindentations are in twisted relationship one to another due to thearcing lever action of the crimping dies rnOving against the connectorbody. The present invention achieves a uniform deformation of theconnector body because the crimping dies are in one plane or straightacting. The present invention also provides, due to the straight linedie movement, a more uniform crimping of the wire strands when comparedto prior art connecting tools.

When it is desired to rotate the multi-position dies 38 and 40 so as toprovide another crimping die size, it is only necessary to pull thelocking pin assembly 46 away from the lever jaw plate 2, or 4 as thecase may be, see FIGURE 7. This movement of the locking pin assembly iscontinued away from the tool head until the die indexing pin is in theposition, as illustrated in FIGURE 7. The crimping die designated as 33is free to rotate about the die center pin 42 to another die station.When the crimping die is at the proper position, the locking pinassembly is moved towards the lever jaw, as shown in FIG- URE 6.O-shaped split ring 52 engages groove 54 so as to lock the locking pinassembly 46 in position.

To entirely remove die 38 from the tool head, it is only necessary tomove the locking pin assembly 46 until O-shaped split ring 52 slidesinto the complementary receiving groove 58 on the center die pin, seeFIGURE 8. This will, thus, move the center die pin out of the areabetween carrier plates 30, as shown in FIGURE 8. The die can then beeasily removed. For the sake of clarity, only one crimping die removalprocedure has been described. However, the same procedure pertains toboth dies. The locking pin assembly is prevented from being removed fromthe tool head by means of a spring retaining plate 56 affixed to thelever jaw plate by any suitable method and which retains ring 52therein. To entirely remove assembly 46 from the tool, it is onlynecessary to move said assembly so that groove 58 on the center indexpinis forced past spring 52.

It is to be understood that each die has several crimping die stationsand a wire-cutting surface. It is also possible for each die to beprovided with multiple crimping die stations, as well as wire-cuttingand wire-stripping means. It is also possible to replace the dies withthose of another size or sizes so that a wide range of connectors can becrimped in the tool.

Adjustment for die surface, guide plate, or pivot point wear iscompensated for and corrected by means of adjustment and lock screws 48and 50 (see FIGURES 3-5) which are located on the inner area of thehandle assemblies 15 and 17.

To determine if the tool is in need of adjustment and to correct any diesurface, guide plate or pivot point wear, it is only necessary to openthe handles 26 and 28 (see FIGURE 5) to their respective open positionsand then rotate the crimping dies until the dies for the size wire to becrimped are positionally aligned for crimpin Handles 26 and 28 areclosed until the individual crimping dies contact each other, and thenthe distance is measured between handles 26 and 28 at points A and B.

If the space between points A and B is less than the desired distance,then the crimp is too loose and adjustment is corrected by equallyturning adjustment and lock screws 48 and 50 in opposite directions therequired amount. If the space between points A and B exceeds the desireddistance, then the crimp is too tight for a satisfactory connection andadjustment is corrected by turning adjustment and lock screws 48 and 50the required amount in opposite directions but reversely, as previouslystated.

A connector locator and wire stop means 6%) is provided as an integralpart of frame 45 and is located at the extreme end away from dieindexing pin 44 (see FIG- URES 1 2 and 9 The above-described meansaxially locates the connector body to be crimped in proper alignment forcrimping as well as properly positions conductor wire strands betweenthe cutting surfaces of the dies. The connector locator and wire stopmeans also prevents the wire strands from becoming accidentally pinchedbetween parts of the tool head. It is also conceivable that the meansdescribed could be an integral part of the lever jaw plates or tieplates.

As can be noted from an examination of the specification and drawings,the tool is designed so that numerous identical parts are used, forexample, the dies, tie plates, handle assemblies, locking pinassemblies, jaw plates, links and adjustment and lock screws are allidentical to their respective counterparts. The handles are preferablyof Fiberglas so as to reduce the weight of the tool in order that it canbe easily handled while in operation. All parts used in the manufactureof the tool are economically and easily produced.

It is clearly noted that the tool converts and provides double leverhandle action into straight path movement at the crimping dies; moreuniform deformation of the wire strands when crimped due to the straightaction; self-contained but replaceable multi-position, multi-purposecrimping, cutting and stripping means; a tool which uses many identicalparts and unique adjustment means to compensate for parts wear.

It will, therefore, be appreciated that the aforementioned and otherdesirable objects have been achieved; however, it should be emphasizedthat the particular embodiment of the invention, which is shown anddescribed herein, is intended as merely illustrative and not asrestrictive of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a tool for crimping or compressing electrical connector elementsonto electrical conductor means, handle means pivotally connectedtogether at a pivot point, jaw plate means pivotally connected to saidhandle means, tie plate means pivotally connected to said jaw platemeans, carrier plate means carried by said jaw plate means, guide meanson said carrier plate means, rotatable crimping die means carried bysaid carrier plate means, locking pin assembly means for locking saiddie means in a crimping position for crimping an electrical connectorelement onto electrical conductor means when the die means are moved ina straight line path via said guide means and said handle means, andlocator means on said locking pin assembly means adjacent said crimpingdie means for locating a connector element between said crimping diemeans.

2. In a tool as described in claim 1 wherein the guide means engagechannel means disposed in the carrier plate means and movable thereinfor longitudinally orienting the crimping die means.

3. In a tool as described in claim 1 wherein the locking pin assemblymeans comprises a pin for centrally receiving the crimping die means forrotation thereon and an indexing pin for engaging a corresponding holein said crimping die means to prevent rotation thereof.

4. In a tool as described in claim 1 wherein the locking pin assemblymeans is slidably connected to the tool to allow said crimping die meansto be rotatable to various positions and to allow said crimping diemeans to be removed from said tool.

5. In a tool for crimping or compressing electrical connector elementsonto electrical conductor means, handle means pivotally connectedtogether at a pivot point, link means having one end pivotally connectedto said handle means, jaw plate means pivotally connected to another endof said link means, tie plate means pivotally connected to said jawplate means, carrier plate means carried by said jaw plate means, guidemeans on said carrier plate means, rotatable crimping die means havingmultiple crimping die stations carried by said carrier plate means,locking pin assembly means for locking said die means in one of saidmultiple crimping die stations *3 Li for crimping an electricalconnector element onto electrical conductor means when the die means aremoved in a straight line path via said guide means and said handlemeans, and die adjustment means on said handle means in opposingsurfaces thereof and on each side of the pivot for the one end of thelink means for adjusting the crimping relationship of said die means.

6. In a tool as described in claim 5 wherein the die adjustment meanscomprise adjustment and lock screw means.

7. A tool for crimping a connector member onto cable means comprisinghandle means pivotally connected together at a pivot point, link meanshaving one end pivotally connected to said handle means at pivot pinmeans disposed adjacent said pivot point, jaw plate means having one endpivotally connected to the other end of said link means at other pivotpin means, tie plate means pivotally connected to said jaw plate means,carrier plate means carried by said jaw plate means, crimping die meanson said carrier plate means, guide means on said carrier plate means forguiding said crimping die means in straight-line movement when saidhandle means are operated to move said crimping die means toward eachother to crimp said connector member onto said cable means, andadjustment means in opposing sections of said handle means on each sideof said pivot pin means for the one end for adjusting the crimping diemeans relative to each other.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,321,208 11/1919 Himmerschitz72410 2,992,576 7/1961 Evans et a1. 72-410 3,205,568 9/1965 Stull 72410RICHARD J. HERBST, Primary Examiner.

R. D. GREFE, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A TOOL FOR CRIMPING OR COMPRESSING ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ELEMENTSONTO ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR MEANS, HANDLE MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTEDTOGETHER AT A PIVOT POINT, JAW PLATE MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAIDHANDLE MEANS, TIE PLATE MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID JAW PLATEMEANS, CARRIER PLATE MEANS CARRIED BY SAID JAW PLATE MEANS, GUIDE MEANSON SAID CARRIER PLATE MEANS, ROTATABLE CRIMPING DIE MEANS CARRIED BYSAID CARRIER PLATE MEANS, LOCKING PIN ASSEMBLY MEANS FOR LOCKING SAIDDIE MEANS